DEVICE DISCOVERY USING BROADCAST TECHNOLOGY

摘要

Techniques described herein automatically discover the IP address of a first network device such as but not limited to a multifunction printer. Such techniques use a unique identifier of the first network device, such as for example a multifunction printer serial number. Such unique number is used in the configuration of a second network device, such as for example a Digital Front End/External Print Controller that may need the IP address of the first network device. The unique number may be entered once into the second network device or may be received from the first network device through a data interface by the second network device. Techniques then may use any available broadcast technology such as but not limited to Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to determine from available network devices which network device therefrom has the same unique number, thereby obtaining the IP address of the first network device.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method for determining an IP address of a network device on an electronic network using broadcast technology, comprising:
a first network device having a unique identifier communicably connecting, at an initial handshake, to a second network device via a proprietary or open interface, wherein said proprietary or open interface is not an IP network interface; during the initial handshake, said first network device transmitting once the unique identifier for delivery to the second network device through said proprietary or open interface, wherein the transmitted unique identifier enables:
subsequent to said transmission, said second network device to broadcast a query request across said electronic network to any network device available on said electronic network and configured to respond to the broadcast query request, said query request requesting unique identifiers thereof;responsive to receiving said unique identifiers over said electronic network, matching said transmitted unique identifier received via said proprietary or open interface against said unique identifiers received over said electronic network responsive to said broadcast to determine a matching unique identifier;responsive to determining the matching identifier, obtaining an IP address of the network device having the matching identifier, which is the first network device; andresponsive to obtaining the IP address of the first network device, the second network device establishing a connection with the first network device over the electronic network, using the IP address; wherein at least one of the steps is performed by a processor.